You tax dollars may pay for disgraced former State Senator Carlos Uresti's appeal, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Court documents obtained by 1200 WOAI news reveal that Uresti, who was convicted earlier this year on eleven counts of fraud and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, is pleading poverty and requesting a court appointed lawyer be named to represent him in his appeal.
"Mr. Uresti is financially unable to obtain counsel and wants counsel to remain but be appointed by the Government because he can't afford to pay attorney fees and costs," the former lawmaker wrote in his request for taxpayer-funded attorneys.
The motion didn't say if Uresti will also need a court appointed lawyer in his upcoming bribery trial, which is set to begin in October.
During his trial, testimony indicated that Uresti was fond of bragging about his wealth, even showing off his bank balance to co-workers on his cell phone during staff meetings.
Uresti was convicted of ripping off investors in a bogus fracking sand company.
Another officer of the firm is set to be sentenced today, and former FourWinds Logistics President Stanley Bates will be sentenced next month.S
ince his conviction, Uresti has surrendered his law license, resigned from the Legislature, and has begun selling assets to try to meet an order that he pay more than $6 million to the people he ripped off.